As a writer, it’s hard to know which resources are actually useful and which ones are just a fad.

“You have to use this software to outline your book!”
“This is the only word processor you should use to write your novel!”
“Everyone can tell if you don’t use this tool. . .”

Heard it before? There are so many writing tools and resources available nowadays, and that fact can either be extremely helpful or harmful. It becomes harmful when we think we have to use every single one of these new fancy gadgets. For these resources to be helpful, we have to recognise that everyone writes differently. Therefore, we’ll all use a different combination of resources and tools—and that’s okay! Some tools won’t be for you. Some resources just won’t resonate. But they may be someone else’s bread and butter!

With so many big names being tossed around in the tools/resources side of the writing world, though, it can be difficult to find the time and motivation to try and see if something works for you.

That’s why I’m trying these tools and resources, so you don’t have to!

And first up is Grammarly.

What Is Grammarly?

Grammarly is an AI-powered editing tool that will point out errors in your writing and correct them for you if you so choose. It’s been around since 2009 but has only recently taken off since 2015 or so.

Here’s an example of what happens when you plug a document into the online Grammarly app, using a sample of my story The Bend in the Road I added some intentional errors to:

As you can see, Grammarly will highlight errors and give you a list of changes that you can either accept or reject. The free version will give you suggestions to improve correctness (basic grammar) and clarity, while the paid upgrade will also provide suggestions for better engagement and delivery.

Grammarly Pros

Browser Plugin

Grammarly has a handy little free plugin you can install in your browser so it will detect errors no matter where you go—even Google Docs! The plugin is available for most of the major browsers.

Free App

Grammarly also has a free app you can download for Windows or Mac so you can use the software wherever you write like Word, Pages, Notes, etc.

Catches (Most of) the Small Mistakes

When editing your own work, the issues you miss are often the tiny ones. The incorrectly spelt word, the missing comma, the apostrophe in the wrong place. This is where Grammarly comes in. It’s pretty good at catching these small mistakes you can easily overlook!

Error Explanations

One thing that sets Grammarly apart from most other grammar checkers is that it teaches you the grammar rule behind the mistake you made, as you see over to the right in this screenshot:

This info isn’t always helpful, but if you’re stuck on a certain grammar mistake, it’s a quick refresher.

Easy to Use

There’s practically no learning curve with Grammarly. The online app is straightforward and very user friendly.

Useful Free Version

You don’t need Grammarly Premium to make good use of the software. The free version still allows you to upload as many documents as you want and check basic grammar, spelling, and sentence clarity. With the free plugin, you can check your grammar all across the web, too.

Grammarly Cons

Not Infallible

Grammarly doesn’t make your writing perfect, and it’s not a replacement for an actual human editor. The software misses some mistakes (can you spot the unmarked mistakes in the screenshots above?) and some of its suggestions are even incorrect.

Grammarly is not an editor. It’s editing software that’s meant to be used in conjunction with human editing. Ideally, Grammarly is used as a final check after you’ve already done your own editing.

Not Made for Fiction

Grammarly was obviously made more for copywriting than fiction, though it has evolved over the years. It doesn’t quite understand the nuances of fiction and creative non-fiction, so you’ll get some wacky suggestions with fiction sometimes.

Free Software Has Its Limits

While the free version of Grammarly is good, the paid version offers many more options that may help to actually improve your writing. It claims to offer suggestions focused on more clarity-focused sentence rewrites, engagement, tone, word choice, and more, and it even has a plagiarism checker.

Since I’m a writer on a budget, I try to stick to free services as much as possible. I can’t give my opinion on Grammarly Premium because I’ve never used it and there’s no free trial, although I would love to give it a try so I can give you—and writers like you—a more informed opinion! (See the donation box below the post to find out more!)

Myth-busting Grammarly

I’ve heard various people say that Grammarly changes their writing tone/style, so they don’t like to use it. And while it’s up to you to decide whether or not Grammarly is your cup of tea, I think this complaint comes from a lack of self-editing practice rather than a fault on Grammarly’s part. With the free version, especially, Grammarly is more focused on improving the more technical aspects of your writing like grammar and clarity. That alone can’t change your style much.

And remember, Grammarly doesn’t change anything. You decide which changes are made. This is why it’s not a good idea to treat Grammarly like a perfection machine and automatically accept every suggestion. Keeping your unique voice, style, and tone intact is easy as long as you’re closely monitoring every suggestion before you accept it. 

Like most kinds of AI writing assistants, if you want Grammarly to be a useful tool, you can’t solely rely on it. You have to work with it, bringing your own style and knowledge to the table. As long as you are thoughtfully approving or denying each suggestion, your style will stay intact.

Is Grammarly for You?

Only you can decide! Personally, I think Grammarly is a great tool and I use it almost daily. While it won’t make your writing perfect, it will catch small errors you’ve made and help you identify consistent mistakes you make in your writing.

What has your experience with Grammarly been like? Let me know in the comments! And if
you’re still looking for that human editor to do what Grammarly can’t, check out my services—I’ve made dreams come true for authors all over the world!

Happy writing!
—E.J.

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash